The Price of Glory: The Dark Mystery of Mount Everest

When you are just above the Earth and below the Moon, you are standing on the top of the majestic, legendary and ruthless mountain — Mount Everest. Being the world’s highest peak, it has lured the brave, the dreamers and the adventurous people to climb. When you reach the summit, it feels like you're touching the roof of the world. In order to experience this feeling, thousands of climbers put their lives at risk every year.  And this number is increasing every year. Summiting Mount Everest once used to be an acid test for genuine mountaineers but today, it has become a commercialized peak where ambition, greed and recklessness have destroyed the soul of mountaineering. Mt Everest is a place where you find limited oxygen, very low temperatures up to -42°C, high altitude sickness and difficult survival. Here, every story of success is followed by the stories of tragedy — hundreds of frozen bodies, their grieving families and dying ecosystems caused by human greed. This is the brutal reality of Mt Everest where dreams are made and shattered.

The stats tell the brutal truth about Mount Everest’s human toll. Since the 1920s, over 340 climbers have died on Everest, with over 200 bodies still on the mountain. Most of these bodies are in the Death Zone (above 8000 meters) and are never recovered due to its difficulty, expense and risk of removing them. On average, 5-10 people die on Everest every year. But these numbers only tell part of the story. The truth about Everest is different from what is dreamed and said. Where human life can’t be sustained for long periods, the bodies of climbers can last for decades. These dead climbers have become landmarks for those still attempting the climb. Families of the dead are faced with an impossible choice: whether to do a dangerous and expensive body recovery mission or leave their loved one under the ice forever. The recovery operation can cost over $70,000 and put additional lives at risk. Many bodies are buried deep in the ice and are almost impossible to find.

“You can’t save someone above 8,000 meters. If they collapse, they die. That’s the truth about Everest.” — Jon Krakauer, journalist and Everest climber (1996 disaster survivor)

Climbing Everest is no longer just a test of skill — it’s a business. Today’s Everest expedition costs range from $30,000 to over $150,000 per climber. The most luxurious packages include personal chefs, Wi-Fi, and heated tents. The lure of standing on top of the world has become a status symbol for the wealthy.

But behind the scenes, Sherpas—the backbone of every expedition—face the greatest danger. These indigenous guides carry loads through avalanches, fix ropes on deadly ridges, and risk their lives so others can claim the summit. And yet, many Sherpas earn less than $5,000 per season, often without proper insurance.

“It’s not climbing anymore. It’s a ladder of money, and the Sherpas are the rungs.” — Jamling Tenzing Norgay, son of Tenzing Norgay

The commercialization of Everest has led to overcrowding so extreme that in May 2019, a photo of climbers queued near the summit went viral. Over 250 climbers stood in a single-file line, waiting for hours in the death zone. That same week, 11 climbers died, many from exhaustion or exposure while waiting for their turn at glory.

These commercial climbing expeditions often cater to clients with minimal experience, increasing the risks for everyone involved. As Nepal grants more permits to boost revenue, Everest becomes less a mountain and more a marketing machine.

Beyond the human toll, Everest is facing an environmental crisis. Every season, climbers leave behind tons of garbage—oxygen canisters, plastic, tents and human waste. What was once pristine is now polluted. The Everest garbage problem threatens not only the local ecosystem but the image of Nepal as a sacred and beautiful land.

Despite government mandates requiring climbers to return with at least 8kg of waste, enforcement is weak, and cleanup efforts fall short. According to the Nepalese Army, nearly 75 tons of trash have been collected so far in the Everest cleanup campaign—just the tip of the iceberg.

Once, climbing Everest was about perseverance, respect for nature, and the quiet pursuit of personal greatness. Today, it’s often about media fame, Instagram photos, and luxury experiences that strip away the humility of the journey. The truth about Everest is sobering: in the race for records and recognition, the mountain is losing its soul.

Real climbers—those who value the challenge over the spotlight—now find themselves sidestepping selfie-takers and dodging litter on sacred slopes.

• Implement stricter qualification requirements for climbers

• Limit the number of permits issued annually to avoid overcrowding

• Increase permit fees to fund safety and environmental programs

• Establish mandatory mountaineering experience prerequisites

• Mandate minimum wage standards for Sherpas and support staff

• Require expedition companies to provide comprehensive insurance

• Create profit-sharing arrangements that benefit local communities

• Develop alternative economic opportunities for mountain communities

• Require expeditions to carry out all waste generated

• Implement deposit systems for equipment left on the mountain

• Fund large-scale cleanup operations using permit fees

• Establish protected zones around culturally significant areas

• Partner with local communities to develop sustainable tourism models

Mount Everest remains one of Earth’s most majestic and terrifying places—a symbol of human ambition and mortality. As climbers continue to ascend in search of glory, we must ask: at what cost? Are we honoring the mountain or exploiting it? The future of Everest lies in our hands — not just as adventurers but as stewards of nature, ethics, and human dignity.

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👉 New Rules for Climbing Mount Everest